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U.S. rests case in federal kidnapping trial

Janet Jenkins takes the stand

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Updated: 6:26 PM EDT Aug 10, 2012

U.S. Attorneys call on various witnesses who reviewed banking statements they say show Kenneth Miller paid for Lisa Miller's travel to Nicaragua with Isabella; however, Janet Jenkins' testimony drew the most attention

U.S. rests case in federal kidnapping trial

Janet Jenkins takes the stand

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Updated: 6:26 PM EDT Aug 10, 2012

BURLINGTON, Vt. —

As federal prosecutors continued arguing their case against Mennonite pastor Kenneth Miller, all eyes were on their fourth witness of the day, Janet Jenkins.

Jenkins was emotional on the stand as she recollected the last time she saw her daughter, Isabella, in January 2009.

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U.S. attorneys pointed to Jenkins' court-ordered visits with Isabella later in December 2009, but those visits would never happen because Lisa Miller left the country with Isabella and went to Nicaragua.

As the government wrapped up their case, they also called on Andy Yoder, a Mennonite who lived in Nicaragua at the time of Lisa Miller's arrival. He acknowledged meeting Lisa and Isabella, who went by the aliases Sarah and Lydia.

Yoder also testified that while he was on a trip back to the U.S. later in 2009, Kenneth Miller gave him $500. Yoder was asked to give the money to fellow Mennonite Pastor Timothy Miller once he returned to Nicaragua.

Timothy Miller, no relation to Lisa or Kenneth, has admitted to arranging Lisa Miller and Isabella's travel. He also picked them up at the airport once they arrived in Central America.

In 2011, related kidnapping charges against Timothy Miller were dropped after he agreed to become a witness for prosecution.

Once the government rested, Kenneth Miller's defense briefly called on two character witnesses, including the Mennonite travel agent from Kansas who booked Lisa Miller's flights.

The agent said she's known Kenneth for decades and called him "an honest man who is open about his shortcomings, but overall is a man of integrity."

In reference to Kenneth Miller's defense, Judge William Sessions III ruled that Miller's Mennonite faith may be used to discuss his character as a law-abiding citizen. However, his religion should not be brought up to validate the truthfulness of his statements.